5th District candidates showing the money

February 01, 2009|By John McCormick and Dan Mihalopoulos, TRIBUNE REPORTERS

In an early measure of strength, several candidates trying to succeed Rahm Emanuel in Congress reported fundraising totals today that suggest the brief but competitive primary campaign will attract plenty of money.

An aide to state Rep. Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago) said she would report raising nearly $325,000. She had not yet filed with the Federal Election Commission late Saturday.

Cook County Commissioner Mike Quigley raised $138,290 and had nearly all of it to start the year.

Quigley also has signed up Chicago businessmen Bill Brandt and Henry Feinberg as his fundraising chiefs, a spokesman said. Brandt played a prominent fundraising role for Hillary Clinton's presidential bid, and he has longtime ties to former President Bill Clinton. Feinberg is a former chairman and chief executive officer of Rand McNally.

Aides to two of the other better-known candidates in the Democratic race, Ald. Patrick O'Connor (40th) and state Rep. John Fritchey (D-Chicago), said they will not file this time because they only started raising money in recent weeks.

The federal paperwork details fundraising through Dec. 31 in advance of the March 3 primary in the 5th Congressional District. Fourteen Democrats are trying to replace Emanuel, who vacated the seat to become President Barack Obama's White House chief of staff.

A more significant report is due Feb. 19. That one is expected to include all the candidates and will show money collected from Jan. 1 through Feb. 11.

Among other Democratic candidates:

*Charles Wheelan, a University of Chicago public policy lecturer, reported raising $108,822 through Dec. 31. He started January with $89,258 in the bank.

*Dr. Victor Forys, who is campaigning on a message of expanded health care access, reported raising $60,126. After loaning his campaign $100,000, he started January with $137,312.

*Delta Airlines pilot Jan Donatelli reported raising $15,650, with most of her contributions coming from fellow pilots and the United Pilots Political Action Committee. She had $8,694 left at the start of last month.

*Labor lawyer Tom Geoghegan's campaign also said it would not be filing a report until next time.

The heavily Democratic district includes much of the North Side as well as parts of several northwest suburbs.

For those looking to avoid too many hours of Super Bowl pregame hype, there will be a political option Sunday. Most of the top Democratic candidates in the 5th District race are expected to attend a candidate forum from 1 to 3 p.m. at DePaul University in the student center multipurpose room, 2250 N. Sheffield Ave.

Sponsors say the forum will be broadcast live on 820-AM, 92.5-FM, 92.7-FM and 99.9-FM. Details are at illinois5th.com.